The Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation will be accepting graduate students from Miami University, Ohio, USA, later this year through the Earth Expeditions programme, as part of the annual study abroad course on “Local Wisdom and Conservation”.
The Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development’s Learning Services Unit continues to utilise its one million-acre forest asset to build capacity in sustainable forest management, conservation, protected areas management, and climate resilience.
A release from Iwokrama stated that student visits, research collaborations, internship and volunteer programmes, and specialised training courses remain key instruments in fulfilling its agenda.
The university students will explore sustainable natural resource management practices in the Iwokrama Forest, which will include a livelihood and cultural component facilitated by the Makushi Village of Surama.
Locally, Iwokrama said it continues to host Guyanese groups, such as the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Youth in Natural Resources Apprenticeship Programme, which introduces young Guyanese to the importance of environmental stewardship and careers in the natural resources sector.
It also hosts University of Guyana students—particularly those studying Forestry, Tourism, Biology, and Environmental Sciences—as well as school groups from surrounding communities and along the coast.
In addition to the aforementioned universities, Iwokrama continues to enjoy important scientific and research collaborations with several institutions, including the University of Guyana, the Lyell Centre – Heriot-Watt University, Purdue University (USA), and, most recently, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.
It noted that its most recent international group of students hailed from Indiana University East, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, who participated in Iwokrama’s immersive training programme.
The Iwokrama Forest offers an unparalleled natural learning environment and serves as a globally recognised model for sustainable forest use. Trainees and researchers are given the opportunity to explore unique attractions such as the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, Turtle Mountain, ancient petroglyph sites, forestry operations, authentic Indigenous cultural experiences, and the majestic Essequibo River.
The release noted that some of the specialised courses offered include Tour Guiding and Visitor Management, Rangering, Biodiversity Identification, Climate Change and the Role of Forests, and Sustainable Forestry.
